Garment-hanger.



H. E. RATHBUN.

GARMENT HANGER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1906.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

ATENT orrron.

HENRY E. RATHBUN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, T0 TILD'EN-TI-IURBER COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODEISLAND, A GOR- PORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

GARMENT-HANGER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnivnr E. RATHBUN, citizen of the United States, andresident of Providence, county of Providence, Rhode Island, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Hangers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for hanging garments and is in thenature of an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Letters Patentof the United States granted to John Webster June 16, 1903, No. 730,992,such improvement consisting in simplifying and strengthening theconstruction and cheapening its cost, all as will be hereinafter setforth and explained.

In general terms this improvement comprises such a construction andarrangement of the cooperating arms which form the hanger as permits thediscarding of the sheet metal guide plate B, thereby getting rid ofcertain difficulties incidental to that construction which result fromthe use of the guide plate into which the ends of the wire arms arefastened.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two forms of embodyingthe principle of my improvement.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hanger constructed according to thisinvention illustrating the stop construction which limits the outward orextended movement. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same incontracted position. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of one of thearms. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a modified form in its contractedposition. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same in the extendedposition. For convenience of illustration in Figs. 2, i and 5,the'suspension chain has been omitted.

Like the device of the Webster patent the hanger comprises twotelescoping members a at having sliding engagement with each other topermit their being lengthened or shortened. Instead however of employingthe sheet metal cross piece B of the Webster patent, I have entirelydispensed with this and have increased the length of one of the arms ofeach member so as to give suflicient material to be bent into a shape tobe hereinafter described, to form the proper holding and interlockingmeans for engaging the other member.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 19, 1906.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 296,774.

As shown in the drawings, the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, thelonger arm a of each member is bent to form an eye a which passes snuglyaround the shorter arm 6 of the other member and then is continuedacross the opposing member on the upper side thereof and bent aroundbeneath itas shown at a to form an elongated loop inclosing and engagingboth arms of the cooperating member. The other end of the loop a maythen be extended longitudinally as shown at a in line with and oppositeto a similar extension a of the cooperating member so that the free endsa of the two members form a stop for limiting the outward movement ofthe two members when extended to the desired position.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the stops for limiting the outward movement orextension of the device, may consist of little projections 0 properlyarranged on the shorter arms 6 of the telescopic members whichprojection may be formed by simply upsetting or displacing the metal orby small lumps of solder desposited upon the wire at the proper points.

By the above described construction it is possible to greatly simplifythe task of assembling, at the same time materially reducing the expensethereof. Moreover the tendency of the wires to get loose from theircross guide pieces when those cross guide pieces are made of separateparts, is entirely obviated and overcome so that the durability of thedevice is materially increased, there being no joints which can becomedetached or work loose. Another and minor improvement consists in theintroduction of a ring d or similar device, into the suspending chain 6whereby a true balance is always secured, it being impossible for thechain to slide or slip over the sustaining peg or hook as happens in thecase where the chain is used without such non-slipping device topositively secure it in proper position.

It will be noticed that both the stops 0 and the stops 0; are locatedwell inside of the outer arms of the two members so that they areperfectly protected and do not form an objectionable projection beyondthe periphery of the device. The extensions a are located in line witheach other intermediate of the two inside arms of the two members, Whilethe stops 0 as shown are formed directly on the inner arms of eachmember.

lVithout attempting to set forth Various changes or modifications thatmay be made in the practice of my invention, What I claim is 1. Agarment hanger embracing in its construction a pair of cooperatingtelescopic members consisting of Wire bent to form substantiallyparallel arms of unequal length, the longer arm of each member beingbent to form an eye surrounding one arm of the opposing member and toform also an elongated loop surrounding the other arm of that member toform a supporting guide therefor, substantially as described.

2. A garment hanger embracing in its construction a pair of cooperatingtelescopic members comprising a piece of Wire bent to form substantiallyparallel arms of unequal length, the longer arm of each member havingits end portion bent to surround and closely engage its shorter free endand also the arms of the cooperating member so as to form a retainingguide therefor, substantially as described.

3. A garment hanger embracing in it construction a pair of cooperatingtelescopic members each consisting of a Wire bent to form substantiallyparallel arms of unequal length the longer arm of each member hav: ingits end portion bent to surround and closely engage both arms of thecooperating member, each member being provided With a stop formed bydisplacing or upsetting the metal to form a projection to engage thetransverse guiding loop of the other member, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day ofDecember 1905.

HENRY E. RATHBUN.

In the presence of WM. H. THURBER, F. E. STEARNS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

